Automatic sampler



S. E. COGSWELL.

AUTOMATIC SAMFLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30,1920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

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AUTOMATIC SAMPLEB. APPLICATION FILED APR.30, 1920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

S. E. COGSWELL.

AUTOMATIC 'SAMPLER. AP'PLICATIGON man APR-30, 1920.

Patented May 2, 1922.

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W L m SEVIABD E. QOGSWELL, OF CENTRAL CITY, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC SAMPLER.

Application filed April 30,1920.

T 0 all to ham it may concern Be it known that I, gnwann E. CocswnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Central City, in the county of Merrick and State of Nebraska, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Samplers; andI do hereby. declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The present invention relates to an automatic sampler, and is particularly an improvement over the automatic samplers disclosed in my Patents, Nos. 1,241,196 and 1,329,110, granted September 25, 191;- and January 27, 1920, respectively.

This invention has for its object the improvement of the sampling device inseveral particulars to enhance the utility and efliciency thereof, including a novel track for the sample tray to retain it in operative position in its sliding movement.

Another object is the provision of novel means for mounting the spring motor used for controlling the movement of thejsample tray, providingv for the convenient attachment and removal of the spring motor and the adjustment thereof when installed.

A further object is the provision of novel means for latching the end doors of the casing in which the sample tray moves.

A still further-object is the provision of novel means for closing the slot through which the shut off valve or shutter is inserted for closing the sampling slot when the tray is removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device, showing the spring motor and other, parts in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the sample tray removed and portions of the spring motor and escapement device shown in section, and portions of the chute broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 378,005.

Fig. 41 is a bottom plan view of the spring motor and holder therefor.

Fig. 5 is a planview. of the escapement bar or arm and the adjacent portion of the bottom of the casing. r i

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification for the continuous movement of the tray instead of the intermittent movement. 1 a i The device is for taking samples of flour .or other material passing down an inclined chute 10, which is provided with a slot or opening 11 in the bottom thereof for the discharge of the portion of the flour or material to take samples thereof. The sam ples are collected in a sample tray 12 movable underneath the chute 10, and having a series of receptacles 18 therein for receiving samples in succession. The tray 12 has a handle it at each end for handling it, and the receptacles 13 have their mouths working close to the bottom of the chute to pass in succession under the openingor slot 11 to receive the samples at predetermined intervals; I

An'elongated casing 15 underneath and parallel with the chute 10 encloses and supports the sample tray, and'comprises a bottom and sides. The upper edges of the sides of the casing overlap and are secured to the Patented May 1922.

sides of the chute 10, as at 16, and the tray is mounted for sliding movement on the bot tom of the casing. includes a pair of inverted ll-shaped rails 16 secured on the bottom of the casing, and the bottom of the tray rests on the edge or ridge of one rail, and has an inverted V- shaped shoe 17 secured thereto fitting on the other rail. The tray is thus slidable on the rails, and the shoe prevents lateral displacement of the tray. -'l.he tray is thus guided and supported on the bottom of the casing by the rails to prevent lateral displacement of the tray with respect to the escapement mechanism even though the casing should warp or get. out .of shape.

The track for the tray' The casing 15 has end doors 18 for clos- 19 have portions 21 extending at an angle to overlap the doors 18 and to move downwardly into keepers 22 secured to the ends of the casing or doors 18 on the inner surfaces thereof. There are two levers 19 at each side of the casing and the adjacent ends thereof are pivotally connected, as at 23, to the upper end of an operating bar 24.- extending slidably through the bottom of the casing and provided at its lower end with a finger piece 25. The bars 24 slide within the guides 26 secured to the sides of the casing, and the bars 24: are conveniently slid upwardly and downwardly for swinging the latch levers 19. Thus, when the bars 2 1 are pulled downwardly, this will swing the opposite ends of the levers 19 upwardly to release the portions 21 from the keepers 22, thereby enabling the doors 18 to open,and when the doors are closed and the bars 24 pushed upwardly, the levers are swung into engagement with the keepers thereby latching the doors "from within the casing and preventing the doors from being opened excepting when the bars are accessible. As hereinafter pointed out, said bars are enclosed and kept under lock and key, to avoid the opening of the doors 18 without the aid of a proper key.

A slide valve or shutter 27 is used for closing the opening or slot 11, when the tray 12 is removed from the casing to avoid waste of the flour or other material. This valve 27 is slid through slots 28 in the sides of the casing 15 immediately under the bottom of the chute 10 and means is provided for preventing the insertion of the valve 27 when the doors 18 are closed, such as when the tray has been inserted within the casing. Thus, a barrier 29 is carried by one lever 19 of each pair, to move upwardly and close the corresponding slot 28 when the levers are swung to latching position, thereby preventing the-valve from being inserted because the slots 28 are closed from the inside. The barriers 29 are used at the opposite sides it the slots 28 are provided in both sides of the casing This will prevent the insertion of the valve when the sample tray is within the casing and the doors 18 latched inasmuch as the tray would be damaged or caused to stick or bind if the valve were inserted before the tray is removed.

The tray will slide by gravity downwardly within the casing, and an escapement device is used for the intermittent step by step movement of the tray to bring the receptacles 13 under the opening or slot 11 in succession for taking samples at predetermined intervals of time. This escapement device includes a longitudinal bar 3O secured to the bottom of the tray 12 and havinglugs 31 bent downwardly from its opposite edges in staggered arrangement for res-react contact with the escapement bar or member 32. lhis escapement member 32 works within an opening 33 provided in the bottom of the casing 15, and said member has a slot 34: in one end and upstanding ears 35 at the opposite sides of said slot for the contact of the lugs 31 which can pass between said ears as the member 32 is oscillated. The other end of said member is pivoted, as at 36, upon a supporting plate 37 on which the member 32 is movable, and said plate 37 bears upwardly against the bottom of the casing under the opening 33.

The plate 37 is provided at its opposite longitudinal ed es with ears or portions 38, and a spring motor is suspended from the plate 37 by screws 16 engaging the upper plate 39 of the spring motor 40. The spring motor is preferably inclosed within a housing 41, and has a winding finger piece 412 to wind up the spring, and the spring motor embodies an ordinary clockwork whereby to control the actuation of the escapement device. The spring motor has an upwardly projecting actuated arbor 4:3 worl ing within an opening in the plate 37 under the slot 34 oi the escapement member 32, and said arbor has a crank pin at working within the slot 34-, thereby oscillating the member 32, once for each unit of time for the taking of the samples. As the member 32 is oscillated, the lugs 31 can escape between the cars 35 thereof, to permit the sample tray to slide downwardly step by step at the predetermined intervals. The bottom of the casing has transverse slots 45 receiv ,ing the screws 16 on the plate 37, which screws are used for securing the motor to the supporting plate 37, thereby permitting transverse adjustment oi said plate and motor.

A holder for the motor is provided on the bottom of the casing and provides for theremoval of the motor and the transverse adjustment thereof. This holder comprises a e -shaped member d7 secured to the bottom of the casing around'the opening 33, and said member has inwardly extending lugs as at the closed end thereof over which one end of the plate 37 is inserted when placed against the bottom of the casing within the member 17, thereby supporting said end of the plate 37. A. transverse bar 19 is secured to the bottom of the casing between the ends of the member 4E7 forthe abutment, of the other end of the plate 37, thereby maintainingsaid plate in its fixed longitudinal position, but permitting said plate to slide transversely within the holder. A. latch 50 is pivoted to the bar 19 to swing under the corresponding end of the plate 37 and support it in the holder. The latch 50 can be swung away from the plate 37, thereby enabling it to he slipped from the holder for removing the spring motor for purpose "of cleaning, ex-

amination or repair. In order to adjust the motor and escapement member 32 transversely and retain them in various transverse adjustments, adjusting screws 51 are carried by side portions of the member 1'? and contact with the ears 38. Said screws can be rotated for shifting the plate 37 transversely in the holder, thereby bringing the escapement member 32 to the desired transverse position for proper cooperation with the lugs 31. The transverse adjustment of the motor is of advantage, not only to properly set the operative connection between the motor and tray, but to also take up wear and loose play from time to time. There is more or less vibration in the use of a devicev of the present kind, and such adjustment will enable transverse displacement between the motor and tray to be taken care of.

The spring motor and bars 24 are enclosed underneath the casing 15, by means of a hood 52, hinged at one end, as at 53, to the bottom of the casing 15 to swing over and enclose the spring motor and lower terminals of the bars 24:, and said hood has a hasp 54 at its other end movable over a keeper 55 depending from the bottom oi? the casing15 for the engagement of a padlock 56. This will lock the hood 52 and prevent access to the motor and door latching means, without the aid of a proper key, thereby prevent-- ing tampering with the motor or unlatching or" the doors 18 by an unauthorized person.

The operation of the device is substan tially the same as is set forth in the patents hereinbe'fore referred to, but briefly stated is as follows:

The sample tray 12 is inserted in the upper end of the casing 15, bringing it to a position with the first lug 31 engaging one of the ears 35 of the escapement member 32, and bringing the first receptacle 13 under the slot or opening 11, as seen in Fig. 1. The doors 18 are then closed and latched, and after the spring motor is wound up, the hood 52 is closed and locked. This prevents the unlatching of the doors 18 or the insertion of the slide valve 27 when the device is in operation, without unlocking the hood 52. The spring motor will oscillate the escapement member 32, permitting the tray to move downwardly step by step at predeten mined intervals, and the receptacles 13 will thus receive samples of the material at predetermined intervals. Then, by unlocking the hood 52. the doors 18 can be unlatched by pulling the bars 24 downwardly, and the tray can be removed from the lower end of the casing, and as the tray is withdrawn the valve 27 is inserted, the barriers 29 having been removed from the slots 28 by the swinging of the levers 19 in unlatching the doors 18.

Fig. 6 illustrated a modification providing for the continuous movement of the sample tray 12 instead of: the intermittent movement thereof, thereby containing a continuous sample which can be received within receptacles or other suitable means. The device is the same as the one hereinbetore described, excepting as follows:

The escapement device is substituted by an operative connection between the spring motor and tray providing for a con nuous movement of the tray. Thus, a longitudinal rack 30 is secured to the bottom of the V and meshes with a pinion 32 secured on the arbor 43 of the spring motor which extends upwardly through the supporting plate 37 and opening 33 in the bottom of the casing. The tray is thus moved slowly downward as the spring motor rotates thearbor 4-3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the kind described comprising a casing having doors at opposite ends, a tray movable within said casing and throu h the ends thereof when the doors are opene latches within the casing for latchholding the doors closed, operating bars connected to said levers and extending. through" the bottom of the casing for operating said levers, and a hood for enclosing the outer terminals of said bars and having means for looking it to the casing.

3. A sampling device comprising a casing to be secured to a chute under an opening in the bottom thereof, a sample tray movable in said casing to move under said chute, means for controlling the movement of said tray, the casing having a slot for the insertion of a valve under said opening when the tray is removed to close said opening, a barrier for closing said slot to prevent the insertion of the valve, and means for moving and controlling the barrier and operable for retaining the barrier in closed position across said slot when the tray is within the chute.

4. A sampling device, comprising a casing to be secured to a chute under an opening in the bottom thereof, a sample tray movable in the casing to move under said chute, means for controlling the movement of said tray, said casing having a door for the passage of the tray, the casing having a slot for the insertion of a valve under said opening when the tray is removed to close said opening, means for latching said door, and means for closing said slot when the door is latched.

5. A sampling device comprising a casing to be secured to a chute under an opening therein and having a door, a sample tray movable in the chute, means for controlling the movement of said tray, the casing having a slot for the insertion of a valve to close said opening, a latch lever mounted within the casing for latching said door in closed position, and a barrier carried by said lever to close said slot when the door is latched.

6. A sampling device comprising a casing to be secured to a chute under an opening therein and having a door, a sample tray movable in the casing and removable when the door is opened, means for controlling the movement of said tray, means for latching the door, a valve for closing said opening when the tray is removed, and means for preventing the closure of said opening by the valve when the door is latched.

7. A sampling device comprising a casing, a tray slidable longitudinally therein, a supporting plate, a spring motor suspended from said plate, holding means carried by the casing for receiving said plate and for adjusting said plate transversely with respect to the casing and tray, and an operative connection between said motor and tray including portions assembled with the motor and tray interengaged transversely of the casing and tray.

8. A sampling device embodying a casing, a tray movable longitudinally in the casing, a supporting plate, a spring motor suspended from said plate, a holder carried by the casing for receiving and holding said J neiaeoa plate in a fixed longitudinal position, and means carried by the holder for adjusting said plate transversely, the spring motor and tray having an operative connection.

9. A sampling device comprising a casing, a tray movable longitudinally therein, a supporting plate, a spring motor suspended from said plate, an operative connec tion between said motor and tray, a holder carried by the casing "for holding said plate against the casing and having means engageable with the ends of said plate to retain it removably in a longitudinal position, a d adjusting screws carried by the holder at the opposite sides of said plate, for adjusting the plate transversely.

10. A sampling device comprising a casing, a tray movable longitudinally therein, a supporting plate having ears at opposite longitudinal edges, a spring motor sus pended from said plate, an operative connection between said motor and tray, a holder for receiving said plate and having means to engage the ends thereof for holding the plate against the casing, and adjusting screws carried by the opposite side portions of said holder and bearing against said ears.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SEWARD E. CUGSWELL.

Witnesses JOHN C. HASTINGS, l. J. NICHOLAS. 

